In the capital, the Minor New Year is celebrated on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. Officials will also start their annual holiday from that day and continue until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Before the holiday, on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, Emperor Jingshun summoned all the officials in the capital and held another court meeting.
There are two main tasks in this court meeting: one is to summarize the achievements of officials in the past year, and the other is to look forward to what will be done after the new year and what goals will be achieved.
Emperor Jingshun was not a talkative person. He sat high up on the dragon throne and let the cabinet headed by Chen Tingjian preside over the court meeting. He would only say a few words when it was necessary for him to speak.
Upon hearing that the Ministry of Revenue had done the math and that the national treasury had a surplus of 580,000 taels of silver this year, excluding the proceeds from the confiscation of Prince Xiang's mansion, Emperor Jingshun smiled.
During the reign of the previous emperor, the national treasury was in deficit almost every year. If the previous emperor wanted some money for his own enjoyment, he had to fight with the cabinet to get some, and then he would be secretly scolded as a tyrant by the upright officials.
After he ascended the throne, he used wise ministers, but it took him more than ten years just to fill the previous holes. It has been much better in recent years, but the income and expenditure of the national treasury are basically balanced. There may be a surplus of tens of thousands of taels this year, but a loss in the next year. In short, he often heard the ministers of the six ministries complaining about poverty and wanting to share money from the national treasury. He felt upset every time he heard it.
In June this year, Chen Tingjian was promoted to the position of Prime Minister. The first thing he did after taking office was to write a memorial, pleading for the implementation of the "performance evaluation system" for officials at all levels. The previous method of relying entirely on the Ministry of Personnel to review officials' performance was changed. Instead, the six ministries and the Censorate registered the records and jointly evaluated the officials on a monthly basis.
Once the performance evaluation system was introduced, the responsibilities of local officials were clearly defined, and rewards and punishments were clearly defined, which made it so that officials no longer dared to neglect their duties. They did what they were supposed to do and supervised householders to pay taxes and grain in a timely manner. Local governments no longer dared to default on taxes and grain, and the national treasury naturally had money.
The new law has achieved such remarkable results after only half a year of implementation. Emperor Jingshun believes that if the new law continues to be upheld, the national treasury will only become more and more full in the future!
The people love money, and so do the emperors. When Chen Tingjian first proposed the implementation of the performance evaluation system, a group of ministers wrote a letter to oppose it, citing various reasons and demanding that the old system be followed. Emperor Jingshun also hesitated and wavered, but Chen Tingjian vowed that this law would enable officials to do practical work and increase national treasury revenue. In addition, Empress Qi also believed that this law was feasible. Only then did Emperor Jingshun firm up his attitude, fully support Chen Tingjian, and suppress all other voices!
Now that the new law has taken effect, it has shut up those officials who are still dissatisfied. Even Emperor Jingshun is proud of Chen Tingjian!
After the Minister of Revenue finished speaking, Emperor Jingshun praised Chen Tingjian generously, and finally expressed his concern for Chen Tingjian's health: "You have worked so hard to implement the new law, and you have white hair in just half a year. I can't bear it. State affairs are important, and you should also take care of your health. So, I will allocate 10,000 taels from the surplus of the treasury this year to help you take care of your health."
Chen Tingjian knelt down and declined: "I am grateful for the trust of the emperor and the heavy responsibility of the prime minister. Everything I have done is within my duty. Since I have already received the salary, I should not accept the emperor's generous reward."
Emperor Jingshun said with a smile: "Those who have made contributions should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes should be punished. Your contributions are obvious to all, so there is no need to refuse."
The other ministers immediately came to the emperor's aid and urged Chen Tingjian to accept it.
Chen Tingjian had no choice but to kowtow and express his gratitude.
Emperor Jingshun did not give the reward money directly to Chen Tingjian, but specially sent a eunuch to deliver the reward to Chen's house with great fanfare. In this way, the people in the whole city would know that Chen Tingjian had made a great contribution, and Chen Tingjian's family would personally feel the grace of the emperor.
As soon as the imperial edict arrived, the masters of each courtyard of the Chen Mansion hurried to the main courtyard to receive it.
Princess Huayang also knelt beside her mother-in-law.
The one who announced the decree was Eunuch Xiao Ma. In addition to a reward of 10,000 taels of silver, Emperor Jingshun also gave two boxes of jewelry, silks, and rouge and powder as rewards to Chen Tingjian's family.
Everyone bowed to thank him for his grace.
Eunuch Xiao Ma received the reward, came over to talk to Huayang, and then left.
As soon as he left, the atmosphere in the Chen family courtyard relaxed. Luo Yuyan smiled and said to Sun: "Mother, when I went out as a guest, I often heard other wives of officials praising father's performance evaluation system. At that time, I didn't really understand it. Now that the emperor has rewarded father, it shows that father's new system is really powerful!"
Yu Xiu couldn't say such polite words, but she also knew that her father-in-law was a good prime minister, and she was proud of it and looked very proud.
Sun looked at Huayang and said, "What is a new law? I have some experience, but I still don't understand it. Princess, do you understand?"
Huayang naturally understood. Although his father-in-law’s new law in his previous life had only been implemented for four years, the surplus silver in the national treasury increased year by year, reaching as high as four million taels in the fourth year!
Moreover, my father-in-law's new law was not just the "Performance Evaluation Law", it also included several other important reforms. Unfortunately, my father-in-law passed away, and the reforms had not yet been fully implemented. The former opposition officials swarmed in and took advantage of the opportunity of my brother convicting my father-in-law to demand the abolition of my father-in-law's series of reforms and the restoration of the old system!
Huayang didn't care about the grudges between officials. She only knew that her father-in-law's reforms had provided the court with money and allowed the people to live and work in peace and contentment. So her father-in-law was a good official, and those who opposed her father-in-law had ulterior motives!
At this time, Sun, Luo Yuyan, Yu Xiu and even the children were looking at Huayang, and Huayang explained it to everyone in an easy-to-understand way.
Sun admired and said, "The princess is really smart. The old man told me several times, but I didn't understand."
Hua Yang believed that what she said was strange. Her mother-in-law was very wise and she was just flattering her on purpose.
After receiving the imperial edict, everyone happily dispersed.
Not long after Huayang returned to Siyi Hall, Sun asked the maid to bring a box of silver, a box of jewelry, a box of rouge, and several pieces of Shu brocade.
Shu brocade is precious. Even the two boxes of silk and satin that Emperor Jingshun bestowed today are by no means all Shu brocade. Huayang thought that her mother-in-law probably picked out all the Shu brocade for her.
Huayang picked out a pink-colored one and told Chaolan, "Send it to the princess's residence and have Wu Run make two jackets for the eldest and second young ladies according to their sizes. Use the remaining material to make some small items for them as well."
Wanyi likes it very much, and Wanqing's little mouth is becoming sweeter and sweeter, as delicate as a piece of jade.
Zhao Yun smiled and said, "You two ladies are so lucky to be loved by the princess."
Chao Yue: "That's because the prince consort won the princess's favor, so our princess loves the two young ladies."
Huayang: …
Because Chen Jingzong used to be outspoken, she can't stand the saying "love the house and love the dog" now!
.
After all, the New Year holiday is coming soon. Chen Jingzong came back early tonight and the sunset was still there.
He wiped it in front as usual, changed into regular clothes and came back.
Huayang is playing chess with Chaolu.
After receiving the signal from the prince consort and looking at the princess who was just observing the chessboard, Chaolu tactfully withdrew.
Chen Jingzong sat cross-legged in the position where Chaolu had just been, glanced at the chessboard casually, and put down a piece.
He stretched out his hand, his five fingers were long and slender with distinct joints, full of strength but not skinny.
Huayang looked at his hands and noticed from the corner of his eye that his cuffs were made of dark blue Hangzhou silk embroidered with cloud patterns and were already half worn.
The Chen family employed four embroiderers. For example, the three brothers of Chen Jingzong could get two ordinary silk robes and two fine cloth robes every season. For the sons of the prime minister, this expense was very simple.
Chen Jingzong worked in the garrison and often wore official robes. When he entered the palace, he changed between official robes and the official uniform of the son-in-law of the emperor. The only time he needed to change into casual clothes was when he returned home. However, silk is delicate and easily damaged and looks old.
"You know that the emperor sent you a reward today?" Huayang talked to him while playing chess.
Chen Jingzong glanced at her and asked, "Do you want to brag about the old man in front of me again?"
At the court meeting this morning, he had already heard Emperor Jingshun praise him heavily!
Hua Yang glared at him, then lowered his eyes and said, "Mother picked out a few pieces of Shu brocade for us from the gift. I saw two pieces for men. It's New Year's Day, so how about I make you two robes?"
Chen Jingzong: "No, a rough man like me cannot wear such delicate satin, it's better to make it into mattress."
Huayang was too lazy to glare at him, and said calmly: "Forget it, I'll give it back to my mother and ask her to make a new robe for my father."
Huayang: …
Although he was dissatisfied, Huayang still had the two pieces of Shu brocade sent to Wu Run the next day.
Shu brocade is rare, and Huayang does not have much confidence in the craftsmanship of the embroiderers at the Chen Mansion. Unlike the embroiderers at the Princess's Mansion, all of whom were brought out from the palace by her, Huayang's daily clothes were also designed by the embroiderers there.
Huayang's new clothes for the New Year had already been prepared. The embroiderers of all sizes in the princess's mansion received four rolls of Shu brocade and worked together to deliver the finished clothes five days later.
Wanyi and Wanqing each received a pink jacket, but with different styles: Wanyi's was more elegant, while Wanqing's was more naive.
In addition to jackets, there are also small items such as handkerchiefs and sachets.
Huayang directly sent someone to invite the two sisters over.
Wanqing was only three years old and didn't know what luxury was. When Wanyi saw the new jacket that the princess' fourth aunt had prepared for her, she exclaimed "Wow" on the spot, covered her mouth with joy, and her eyes were full of disbelief.
Huayang smiled and said, "Let's give it a try."
Wanyi was happy but also worried: "My father won't be happy if I wear such expensive material."
Huayang: "Then keep it for when you go out with me. There is a Lantern Festival in the palace this year, I will take you there."
The clothes are already made, how can they be left empty
Wanyi was protected by the princess' fourth aunt, so she put her strict father behind her and put on her new jacket with a smile.
When Chen Jingzong came back, he saw his two nieces, one big and one small, dressed like butterflies, surrounding Huayang affectionately.
"Uncle Si, this is the new dress that Aunt Si gave us. Does it look good?"
Wanyi asked playfully.
Chen Jingzong glanced at Huayang and said, "That depends on who you're comparing yourself with."
Wanqing didn't understand, but Wanyi understood it immediately. Fourth Uncle meant that Fourth Aunt was the most beautiful one in this room and they couldn't stand out!
Wanyi didn't usually hear such sweet words. She was about to turn eleven, and she felt so sweet and shy for her Fourth Aunt.
In order not to disturb the love between fourth uncle and fourth aunt, Wanyi pulled her sister and ran away quickly!
Huayang couldn't stop them. After the maids left, he glared at Chen Jingzong and said, "Don't talk nonsense in front of the children anymore. Wanyi is sensible and won't talk nonsense. Wanqing doesn't know anything. What if she imitates her brother and sister-in-law?"
Chen Jingzong: "Okay, next time I will just praise them for being pretty, so pretty that they even make a fairy like you look better."
Huayang: …
She really wanted to glare at him, but the word "fairy" really pleased her.
Huayang sat back at the tea table, picked up the tea bowl, drank it, and then said: "Your two robes are also ready and placed in the closet."
Chen Jingzong went to the inner room.
Huayang looked at the slightly swaying curtain. He had two dresses, one dark blue with a flying crane pattern, and one crimson with a lion pattern. He didn't know which one he would wear first.
Shu brocade is rich, elegant, gorgeous and graceful, and none of these words seem to have anything to do with Chen Jingzong.
Huayang took a few sips of tea slowly.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard in the inner room.
Huayang lowered the tea bowl and held it in the palm of her hand. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Chen Jingzong had already stepped out completely, so she glanced over casually.
Chen Jingzong tried on the crimson robe with a lion pattern. The red color made the man look white, and the lion pattern made him look more majestic.
Chen Jingzong is tall and looks very heroic. When he doesn't smile, he looks not only serious, but even a bit cold and murderous.
Only Princess Huayang was not intimidated by his appearance.
She turned her eyes away from his face with a normal expression and looked at the robe to see if there was anything wrong with it.
“Does it look good?”
Chen Jingzong asked the same question as his niece.
Hua Yang chuckled: "That depends on who you're comparing yourself with."
She was just imitating his words, but Chen Jingzong came over, held her hand and pulled her into his arms, and asked seriously, "Who do you want to compete with?"
Huayang thought he was going to make fun of his father-in-law and other handsome men of letters again, so he told him to shut up in annoyance.
Chen Jingzong took her in his arms and sat her on the chair, then bent down and kissed her.
Huayang pushed on his shoulders, but the more he pushed, the weaker he felt.
After a long time, Chen Jingzong raised his head, held her face and asked, "Does it look good?"
Huayang refused to say.
Chen Jingzong continued to kiss.
This happened three times, but Huayang still refused to speak.
Chen Jingzong thought back to many nights in the past. No matter how weak her body was, the princess's pride was always there. She would never say a word he wanted to hear, which made him feel like a beast and he couldn't bear to tease her anymore.
"Well, if it looks good, you kiss me, if it doesn't look good, you bite me."
Looking at her tightly pursed lips, Chen Jingzong moved his face closer.
Huayang wanted to bite him, but he was shy and couldn't bite, so it ended up being a kiss!
Chen Jingzong's eyes were full of pride: "I knew that you agreed to marry me because you were attracted by my face."
(End of this chapter)